San Antonio Spurs poster boy Victor Wembanyama proved to be a man of the people by expressing his love of chess in public on a somber day in New York City.
While in town for back-to-back games against the Knicks and Nets, The Alien decided to have an immersive experience in the Big Apple and headed to Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Saturday morning.
Before fans gathered to watch the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year take on New York residents in the mental game, he scoured the city for the best places to play chess.
After the Spurs' 96-87 win over Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Friday, the Frenchman turned to X and asked, “What are the best places to play chess in New York?”
Ten hours later, he left a place for fans to meet him, Washington Square, which is a hub for chess enthusiasts in the city.
'Who wants to meet me at the southwest corner of Washington Square Park to play chess? “I'm already there,” Wemby continued.
Victor Wembanyama played chess with New York City residents in Washington Square Park
The NBA's social media pages later posted a montage of Wembanyama taking on different opponents as it drizzled over the heart of the New York University campus grounds.
While reposting the video, Wemby suggested: “We need a chess tournament just for NBA players, proceeds will go to the charity of the winner's choice.”
After the session, Wembanyama posted a photo with the fans who participated and attended, writing “Thank you to everyone who came in the rain.”
Wembanyama and the Spurs split their games at the Empire State, starting with a 117-114 loss on Christmas Day to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Despite the result, Wembanyama had a 42-point performance with 18 rebounds and four blocks.
Against Brooklyn, Wembanyama scored 19 points with seven rebounds and six digs.
The Spurs are 16-15 and in ninth place in the Western Conference.